Blog

Contractors charged with restoring large buildings often have the time consuming task of repairing and/or repainting window frames and casings. Windows in these buildings can be very heavy and fragile, with glass components highly susceptible to chipping or fracturing. Window damage is avoided at all costs, as the glass is very costly to replace and reinstall.

To restore windows and prepare old casings for new paint, several methods may be considered including the use of chemical paint strippers or hand tools (e.g. wire wheels or bristle blasters). For larger projects, ordinary abrasive blasting can be a solution, but normally all glass must be removed prior to blasting to prevent damage from the media. Sponge blasting is another alternative. With minor precautions, removal of glass components is usually unnecessary.

This video shows a blaster quickly and efficiently sponge blast an aluminum window frame up to the glass edge with no protection of the glass. While Sponge Media allows for blasting directly next to the glass, minor precautions are recommended to prevent accidental damage of the glass. This is possible due to the unique characteristics of Sponge Media micro-abrasive, which drastically reduces rebound and ricochet after collision with the substrate. A blaster can blast with surgical precision due to the increased visibility that Sponge Media’s dustless blasting environment creates, even in small containment areas.